Arai Corsair V Helmets on Sale!

The boss says these Arai helmets have to go! We have a few of these Snell M2010-certified Arai helmets on sale with recent build dates so you get the...

Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144081&goto=newpost

Chris Anderson Fergus Anderson Hugh Anderson John Anderson Kent Andersson

What's your plans for 2011?

As usual around this time of year a lot of people start to think about what they will get up to and where they will go in the year ahead (whether...

Source: http://www.motorsportforums.com/forums//showthread.php?t=140811&goto=newpost

Lenfranco Baviera Richard Bay Jean Michel Bayle Jean Pierre Bayle Len Bayliss

Libor Podmol: 2010 FIM Freestyle MX World Champion

This was by far the most thrilling conclusion ever to the NIGHT of the JUMPs FIM Freestyle MX World ...

Source: http://www.fim-live.com//en/media/news/news-detail/article/1292254230-libor-podmol-2010-fim-freestyle-mx-world-champion/

Chris Baert Graham Bailey Steve Baker Peter Balaz Romolo Balbi

Kawasaki Releases More Information on the ZX-10R?s Technical Hold ? Sales to Resume Late January

The launch of the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R has been a rocky one for Team Green. First there was the new that the ZX-10R’s class leading power figures wouldn’t be making it to the American market, as the Japanese manufacturer was honoring new EPA noise standards, which necessitated the Kawasaki ZX-10R getting its wings clipped by 750RPM and approximately 20hp.�With this sort of impediment soon to become a common occurrence in the North American markets, ...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/CZyc2s_1Gbg/

Juan Bolart Gerhard Boll Jacques Bolle Pierre Bolle Maurice Bolwerk

BMW Unscripted: Tiffany Coates

Drawing from the same vein the as the BMW Films made in 2001 & 2002, the Bavarian brand has made some short videos that feature unique BMW owners doing what they do best with their German vehicles, and in the case of Tiffany Coates that means riding her BMW R80GS (named Thelma) just about everywhere humanly possible. An accomplished adventure rider and a celebrity in the genre, Coates has hit five continents on her BMWs. ...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/ry47u4RbPu4/

Richard Bay Jean Michel Bayle Jean Pierre Bayle Len Bayliss Troy Bayliss

Repaved Daytona Track Smooth and Bump-Free, Drivers Say

Filed under: Bobby Labonte, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Daytona Int'l Speedway, NASCAR Sponsors, NASCAR Testing, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

The freshly repaved track at Daytona International Speedway is smooth, has plenty of grip and plenty of room for racing, said NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who participated in Wednesday's Goodyear tire tests at the track.

"They smoothed out all the bumps," said Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 2004 Daytona 500 champion. "The track is real smooth. It's got a lot of grip. The track reminds me a lot like Talladega was like when they first finished it.

"The racing during the drafting was exciting and I think it is going to be a good show, a more exciting show for the fans because the cars are going to stay real tight on each other throughout entire runs."

The speedway said 18 drivers took part in the tire test Wednesday -- the first day of a two-day Goodyear test to determine the proper tire compound for the 2.5-mile speedway's new racing surface before the 53rd annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 20. Drivers turned laps on the speedway in both single car and drafting sessions.

It was the first time race cars have been on the track at speed since the repaving job was completed earlier this month. From July to December, the entire track was repaved for only the second time since it was built and opened in 1959.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/15/repaved-daytona-track-smooth-and-bump-free-drivers-say/

Gerhard Bauer Manfred Baumann Alvaro Bautista Lenfranco Baviera Richard Bay

MotoMatters.com HQ Moving - On Hiatus Until Early January

MotoMatters.com headquarters is a whirlwind of boxes, paint, wallpaper, hoovering and packing tape (duct tape, naturally). Because of the move, there is little or no time to keep our loyal readers up to date with the world of world championship motorcycle racing.

read more

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Alejandro Aleman Eduardo Aleman Jaime Alguesuari Julien Allemand Dick Allen

Chris Carr Announces ?Farewell to Flat Track? Tour

Winding down one of the greatest careers in AMA Flat Track Championship racing history, seven-time champion Chris Carr has decided to make the upcoming 2011 season his last effort at pursuing an overall AMA Twins title.

Source: http://www.roadracerx.com/breaking-news/chris-carr-announces-%e2%80%9cfarewell-to-flat-track%e2%80%9d-tour/

Daniel Amatriain Dario Ambrosini Ray Amm Luigi Ancona Bob Anderson

Successful Shoulder Surgery for Melandri

Yamaha Factory World Superbike Team?s new recruit for the 2011 series, Marco Melandri, underwent minor and completely successful surgery on his right shoulder yesterday (Thursday 23rd December) and expects to be fully fit for the works squad?s next test at the Portimao circuit in Portugal on January 26th.

Source: http://www.roadracerx.com/breaking-news/successful-shoulder-surgery-for-melandri/

Juan Bolart Gerhard Boll Jacques Bolle Pierre Bolle Maurice Bolwerk

Jean Todt?s Approval Rating XII | Debates and polls

Are you happy with how F1 is being run by the FIA president?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/NfTYfJGxPR8/

Jean Pierre Beltoise Felice Benasedo Gert Bender Ingemar Bengtsson Johnny Bengtsson

I knew this day was coming but so soon ????

I'm getting new glasses tomorrow :mark:

Yippee....

I can still see normally, especially long distances but I can't read small print anymore. I...

Source: http://www.motorsportforums.com/forums//showthread.php?t=140818&goto=newpost

Gilbert Argo Manuel Arias Ken Armstrong Reg Armstrong Arciso Artesiani

Fiat Yamaha seal team title with double podium at Philip Island as Spies claims top rookie award

A double podium for the Fiat Yamaha Team today sealed the second leg of the 2010 Triple Crown, as World Champion Jorge Lorenzo finished second and Valentino Rossi third behind winner Casey Stoner in the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

After a sopping wet weekend the weather finally cleared up today, as the sun came out and temperatures rose above 15 degrees for the first time. Lorenzo got a good start into turn one, losing one place to Marco Simoncelli but passing the Italian back soon after to retake second. As the World Champion had feared however he was unable to match Stoner?s pace today, despite trying his best in the early stages. Once he realised he could not catch the Australian he contented himself with an uneventful but enjoyable race, unchallenged throughout to finish in second place. It was the 23-year-old?s 50th start in the MotoGP class and his 32nd podium from those races.

A small set-up tweak in warm-up had left Rossi slightly more hopeful of his chances today but the nine-time champion was left with all to do when he dropped to ninth on the first lap. He gained two places on the next three laps and on lap five found himself on the end of a four-man group in sixth, with third in his sights. He dealt with Simoncelli first, passing his countryman on the brakes into turn one, dispatched Nicky Hayden on lap seven and then fellow Yamaha man Ben Spies on the eighth. His task was not over however and he had his work cut out to hold onto the final podium spot with Hayden hard on his heels. On the third last lap the American got by the Italian but a brilliant last-lap move from Rossi secured him an incredible 13th podium in 14 years at Phillip Island.

Stoner?s win means Rossi slips one place to fourth in the standings, with a deficit of eight points from the Australian. After a hard three weeks the paddock now heads home for ten days, with Jorge Lorenzo due to take part in a parade through his home city of Palma de Mallorca on Wednesday when he returns victorious as the new World Champion. Today also saw American Tech 3 Yamaha rider Ben Spies, who will join the Factory Team in 2011, secure the Rookie of the Year title.

Jorge Lorenzo ? Position: 2nd Time: +8.598
?We knew Casey would be hard to beat today! I tried my best, riding as hard as I could at the start and occasionally it seemed like I was closing a little bit, but then on the next lap Casey would extend his lead again by a few tenths. I kept trying but I didn?t have much hope and half way through I decided it was better not to take risks. I really enjoyed riding here and sliding a bit on my M1, it was fun but this was Casey?s race today. It was good to be on the podium and now we are heading back and I have my first chance to go home to Mallorca as World Champion and to celebrate with my friends and family. Today we won the Teams? Title and this shows what a great season it has been for us all, with everyone working at the maximum.?

Valentino Rossi Valentino Rossi ? Position: 3rd Time: +17.997 ?To start eighth and finish third is not a bad result and, considering the trouble we had this weekend, we can be happy. Today Casey was riding in a different sport and I want to say congratulations to him ? the podium was the maximum for us but it was still a hard fight to get there. We made some good changes to our set-up this morning and I knew I had a better chance, but we still lacked grip and the bike started to slide a lot after a bit. I had great fun with Nicky at the end because in some places he was faster than me and I really had to push, but the podium here is so important for me and I couldn?t give it up easily. This is my 13th podium in 14 years racing at Phillip Island and I am very proud of this record. We have had three podiums in a row, including one win, and after this difficult season I am happy about this. Today we won the Team title and I am happy for us all and for Yamaha.? Wilco Zeelenberg ? Team Manager ?Today the podium was the most we could do. Jorge tried his hardest at the start and his lap times were quick; we had a good set-up today but Casey was just faster than us. Jorge really enjoyed himself out there and he had a big gap behind him so it was a successful day. Considering the difficult circumstances we?ve had all weekend we can be satisfied with what we?ve achieved. We are happy to win the Team title and now we are going home, finally, and everyone deserves a good rest!? Davide Brivio ? Team Manager ?This morning we did a good job and we were able to find a much better setting. Unfortunately the difficult conditions this weekend and the bad luck we had in qualifying yesterday meant that we were starting from the third row so we had a big job to do. Valentino did very well to get this podium. These three races have gone well for us and we?re heading back to Europe satisfied. Congratulations to the whole team tonight for another Team Championship.? Super Spies claims top rookie award in Australia Ben Spies set another personal milestone in his stunning 2010 MotoGP world championship campaign today, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider?s hard fought fifth place in the Australian Grand Prix securing him the coveted Rookie of the Year award. After a weekend of typically unpredictable conditions at Phillip Island, today?s 27-lap race started under sunny skies with temperatures hitting a weekend high of 15 degrees. Spies made a flying start from the front row of the grid but slipped back to sixth after nearly touching new world champion Jorge Lorenzo as the field jostled for position at turn two. The 26-year-old was back in the hunt for his third podium by lap five, Spies executing thrilling overtakes to move by fellow American Nicky Hayden and Marco Simoncelli. But a small mistake under heavy braking for the perilously fast first turn dropped Spies back to sixth on lap eight. He quickly regained his composure but was unable to restart his rostrum challenge with Hayden and Valentino Rossi pulling clear. Spies had a determined Simoncelli to occupy his mind though, the Italian seizing fifth on lap 19. Content to shadow Simoncelli, Spies quickly realised he could lap much faster and claimed back fifth on lap 23. Displaying his expertise on worn tyres, a magnificent late attack broke Simoncelli?s resolve to ensure Spies lifted the Rookie of the Year title with two races remaining. And his latest top six result means he will also finish top non-factory rider in 2010. Colin Edwards got his bid for a top ten world championship finish back o n track today, the experienced Texan claiming seventh. Edwards was hopeful of fighting for a top six finish but he spent the majority of the race adapting his riding style to counter a small rear grip issue. With just two races remaining at Estoril and Valencia, Edwards is just three-points away from an overall top ten finish.

Ben Spies Ben Spies ? Position: 5th Time: +22.221 ?Jorge and I got super close coming out of the first corner and he almost touched my brake lever. It made me run wide in turn two and a couple of people came by. It didn?t ruin the race but it ruined me building up some momentum. I fought my way back into third and was pretty comfortable when I ran wide at the first corner on lap seven. I got in there a bit hot and the rear came round. Everybody got a run on me and came by and dropped me back to sixth. I then had a good battle with Simoncelli. I kind of towed him around and h e picked up his pace and came by me. Once I knew nobody was behind me, I just waited until a few laps from the end to push and pass him back. I made sure I got a decent gap and chilled out in fifth. At the end I was running times that if everything had gone smoothly, I feel like we could have battled for the podium. Towards the end of the race I was running similar times to those ahead of me and that?s all I can do. I?m happy to be Rookie of the Year too. I beat a lot of good guys for that and it will be an achievement I can be proud of at the end of the season. I?ve had some good results on this three-week stretch and I?m now looking forward to the last two rounds.?

	Colin Edwards

Colin Edwards ? Position: 7th Time: +35.168
?The pace I?d run all weekend was pretty much the pace I was able to run in the race. Conditions changed so much over the weekend that we never really got enough time to work on findi ng a decent set-up. I was confident going into the race and got a decent start but pretty much from the second corner I was having some spinning from the rear tyre. I tried to adjust my riding style because I didn?t want to lose contact with the group in front of me. I settled into a comfortable rhythm but I just couldn?t go any faster. I was trying different lines but I couldn?t enter the corner like I wanted to. My speed was basically dictated by what the rear was doing, but we?ll look at the data and figure a few things out for the final part of the season. I want to thank my guys at Monster Yamaha Tech 3. This has been a tough period of the season but we?ve worked really hard together and I?m happy with the way I?ve performed. Congratulations to Ben too for getting Rookie of the Year. He?s rode awesome all year and he?s beaten a lot of good guys to achieve that.?

Herve Poncharal ? Team Manager

?Ben?s amazing season just gets better and better. To win the Rookie of the Year title with two races to go is a fantastic achievement for him and all of his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew. A lot of very talented riders came from the 250cc class into MotoGP this year and they knew all the tracks, which Ben didn?t. He?s done a magnificent job and done it with another impressive top five finish. Simoncelli never gave up but Ben was too strong for him and showed how strong he is on used tyres. Without a couple of problems in the early laps, I think he could have battled with Valentino and Nicky for the podium. I?d like to thank Colin for all his efforts in this run of three races because he has been very consistent, qualifying very well and showing strong form in the races. He might have expected to be a bit higher up today but he never stopped pushing and I?m delighted with his attitude. Congratulations to Yamaha too on winning another Triple Crown fo r the third year in succession. The competition is so high in MotoGP and that is an amazing accomplishment.?

Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/GhekQmoowLt/Fiat+Yamaha+seal+team+title+double+podium

Jose Barresi Manliff Barrington Alex Barros Geoff Barry Hans Bartl

New BMW S1000RR Roadbike Officially Revealed

Source: http://sportbikeblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-bmw-s1000rr-roadbike-officially.html

Paul Bordes Juan Bordons Andrea Borgonovo Eduard Borisenko Juan Borja

New Daytona Will Have Tighter Action, More Chance for Mayhem, Drivers Say

Filed under: Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Daytona Int'l Speedway, NASCAR Testing, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

As defending Daytona 500 champion Jamie McMurray made his first laps on the repaved Daytona International Speedway Wednesday, the newness of it all was mildly overwhelming at first.

"Honestly, from my first 15-lap run in the draft, it took awhile to take it all in and kinda understand what was happening," McMurray said of the first of two days of Goodyear tire tests on the 2.5-mile speedway's new pavement. "When we unloaded, the cars seemed really wide and the track seemed narrow. But, really, after running 20 or 30 laps, it was not scary and was not that big of a deal.

"Today (Thursday), when I got out there, it felt way more comfortable and you kinda learn little tricks and stuff."

What they also learned, McMurray and other drivers said Thursday at a press conference at the speedway, is that because the new surface is so smooth and fast and so much easier to drive, big packs of cars will stay together longer, and that means the chances of big crashes are greater.

"It's gonna be different racing than what we've had in the past," McMurray said. "The cars are going to stay bunched up more. When you're really close together, it increases those chances" of a big crash, McMurray said. "You just gotta hope that you can make it to the end, because the odds [of a crash] are going to be really good, I'd say."

Barring a huge mistake or problem, "you're not going to the lose the draft," said Jeff Burton. "It's going to be big packs all the time. Three-wide is work. Four-wide is a wreck. Because of the mentality of superspeedway racing. there's going to be efforts to go four-wide to pick up positions, and when that starts happening, it's going to be get hairy."

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/16/new-daytona-will-have-tighter-action-more-chance-for-mayhem-dr/

Jack Brett Norick Abe Hubert Abold Karel Abrahám Brian Adams

funny aprilia commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5GAhn8Raxg&feature=player_embedded

Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144070&goto=newpost

John Blanchard Ramiro Blanco Rolf Blatter Norman Blemings František Bartoš

World Superbike Monza 2010 Highlight Videos

Source: http://sportbikeblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/world-superbike-monza-2010-highlight.html

Jaime Alguesuari Julien Allemand Dick Allen Rudy Allison Pedro Alvarez

Sam Hornish Jr. May Return to Indy 500

Filed under: Sam Hornish Jr., Penske Racing, Indianapolis 500, NASCAR

LAS VEGAS -- Three-time IndyCar champ and 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr.'s NASCAR future remains in limbo, but his team owner, Roger Penske, said Thursday that he will likely field Hornish in the Daytona 500 and possibly in the Indianapolis 500, too.

Penske confirmed the news during a sponsorship announcement at his Ferrari dealership in the Wynn Las Vegas Thursday, where the team unveiled Kurt Busch's new No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series and a similar design for the iconic No. 3 Penske car that three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves will drive at Indy next May.

For all his success in open-wheel racing, Hornish has never managed to make a big splash in NASCAR's big leagues, with only a pair of top-five finishes and eight top-10 efforts in 108 starts over three full seasons. And with no primary sponsor signed for his No. 77 Dodge, Penske said Hornish still doesn't have a full schedule set for 2011. Penske said both a limited Cup and Nationwide Series slate were possibilities.

"I told him that, at the end of the day, I'd much rather do a program where we can support you 100 percent than have some pick-up program with not enough sponsors,'' Penske said. "We need to have the continuity. We have a number of opportunities, but we just couldn't get them closed at this point.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/03/sam-hornish-jr-may-return-to-indy-500/

Stefan Bradl Umberto Braga Stefan Brägger Vincent Braillard Ernesto Brambilla

Sachsenring 2009 MotoGP race analysis

While the weather had produced torrential downpours thoughout the preamble to this GP, it stayed dry for the action in Germany. As the riders lined up on the grid, there was a real feeling of anticipation as Rossi and Lorenzo, so close through practice until that awesome final qualifying lap from Valentino, pulled up next [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/motogpblog/postfeed/~3/U39d5gDqBKA/1137

Takeishi Araoka Adrian Araujo Gilbert Argo Manuel Arias Ken Armstrong

Laguna 2009 tipping contest prizes

Thanks to all our competitors last week - it was a week that was particularly scare on points with Dani Pedrosa hardly featuring in the picks - only four of you had him on the podium at all, and only @rumblestrip as high as second. Elsewhere, he was mentioned but generally only as a crash [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/motogpblog/postfeed/~3/VDuS1uH2ifU/1094

Juan Borja Sergio Boroncini Gino Borsoi Luca Boscoscuro Gimmi Bosio

Libor Podmol: 2010 FIM Freestyle MX World Champion

This was by far the most thrilling conclusion ever to the NIGHT of the JUMPs FIM Freestyle MX World ...

Source: http://www.fim-live.com//en/media/news/news-detail/article/1292254230-libor-podmol-2010-fim-freestyle-mx-world-champion/

Andre Luc Appietto Robin Appleyard Junya Arai Toshiyuki Arakaki Fernando Aranda

OnBoard 2010: The pick of the action

The very best of the on-track thrills captured throughout the 2010 MotoGP World Championship by the special bike-mounted cameras. Enjoy them in this special motogp.com video!

Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/BteHiuwlGWH/OnBoard+2010+pick+action

Julien Allemand Dick Allen Rudy Allison Pedro Alvarez Luis Alvaro

Legendary Riders & Iconic Machines Confirmed for Isle of Man TT Parade Laps (PICS)

Many of the riders and machines have already been confirmed for the 2011 TT ?Milestones of the Mountain? Parade lap to celebrate the centenary of racing around the iconic Isle of Man TT Mountain Course.

Source: http://www.roadracerx.com/breaking-news/legendary-riders-iconic-machines-confirmed-for-isle-of-man-tt-parade-laps-pics/

Steve Bonsey Paul Bordes Juan Bordons Andrea Borgonovo Eduard Borisenko

Boost your games!

Try this tool and you'll be amazed of Its power! ;)
http://www.iobit.com/gamebooster.html

Source: http://www.motorsportforums.com/forums//showthread.php?t=140815&goto=newpost

Jean François Balde Mike Baldinger Alex Baldolini Mike Baldwin Brian Ball

Di Resta ready for F1 debut ? Stewart | F1 Fanatic round-up

Jackie Stewart thinks DTM champion Paul di Resta is ready to make the step up to F1.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/cLdUx4BEWGE/

Jack Brett Norick Abe Hubert Abold Karel Abrahám Brian Adams

motorsport | motoGP news update | superbike | motorcycle modification | Looking ahead to Rossi's last day at Yamaha

The attention is on Valentino Rossi's impending switch to Ducati, but Toby Moody considers the Yamaha team he's leaving behind. And also assesses 125cc sensation Marc Marquez
Seven years ago this weekend, Valentino Rossi got his backpack, jumped on his Austin Powers Repsol Honda for the very last time and rode into the history books as an ex-works HRC rider. He walked away, of his own volition, from HRC who'd made the three cylinders forward, two cylinders back Honda V5 that had conquered every race but three from two seasons in MotoGP.
We all thought it was brave, even I thought he might win three races at a push during his first season on a Yamaha, but he proved me wrong and smoked 'em. Max Biaggi rode the race of his life at Welkom in 2004 and still finished second.
We go to Valencia for the final MotoGP race of 2010 already knowing Valentino will ride for Ducati, following the August announcement by Gabriele del Torchio
As one Ducati person said to me this week: "We are trying to prepare for it all, but we really don't know how big it's going to be."

Valentino Rossi � LAT

I said that even if it's not big, it'll still be massive. He knew exactly what I meant, making his eyes wide open, staring into the distance in the realisation of what his workload is going to be like in 2011.
The Mohammad Ali of motorcycle racing is joining Ducati, and it's getting closer and closer for them - under a week to go before he tests the GP10 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
However, as the first half of this column has thought about 2011, spare a thought for the Yamaha guys who are losing a rider, an inspiration, a friend. For some of the more emotional Yamaha people, it'll be akin to watching a recently lost girlfriend/boyfriend move in next door with their new one.
But just like the emotion of Rossi breaking his leg at Mugello, no-one's died, the world will keep spinning the right way, and back in Tavullia those close Italian friends still at Yamaha will still see him and text him, albeit not quite be the same.
Yamaha has put a historic effort into turning itself around to win five titles in seven years. But just as it did it for Rossi, it's still doing it for Jorge Lorenzo now, while Ben Spies hopes that in 2012 he might take the title in his third year of MotoGP - just as Lorenzo did.
One has to admire the foresight of Yamaha to sign Lorenzo and put him into the lion's den with Rossi and let them battle it out - which led to the hardest decision of all, letting one of the greatest marketing devices walk out the door for whatever reason it was.
So spare a thought for not what is going to happen next Tuesday when Rossi throws his leg over a Ducati for the very first time, but for the Yamaha guys this Sunday afternoon when he rolls into the garage for the final time - or, they hope, into parc ferme as the winner just like he did on the Honda in 2003. In fact, it's probably just as well there isn't any testing on Monday as many may struggle after a huge party following a long season.
Hold that thought.
Now, not since 1997 have I given so much time during a season to ferreting around a 125 team's garage while on my paddock wanderings. It's the Finnish-run Ajo Motorsport garage with Marc Marquez and the super-nice German-with-the-Italian name, Sandro Cortese that I've visited. There are some great guys in the garage from all over Europe - Finns, Germans and Spaniards. Young guys, old guys, new guys, race-winning mechanics and a world champion with Emilio Alzamora who's trying to 'win it' all over again with Marc, some 11 years after he won it himself at Buenos Aires in 1999.
Talking about nationalities, my hero when growing up was, like Aki Ajo, a Finn. Keke Rosberg won the 1982 F1 title; I couldn't put my finger on why I liked him, but this 10-year-old just thought he was cool. Scruff of the neck sideways driving, Ray Ban Aviators, golden locks over an Ibiza tan and pretty girls. To then sit in his 1983 Monaco-winning car when I was just 11, it fixated me on motorsport to this day.
In the mid-'90s I worked for many years in rallying at the British and world level, and I got to work with the Finns with their no bull, 'just get it done' attitude. Life was just great around them.
125cc team boss Ajo is a very humble Finn, but when he's talking he has that slightly broken English with the odd word missing; those long 'verrrrrys' and 'Silverrrrr-ston' pronounciations I think are great, sparking memories in my head.
However, I've had to urge myself to not hark back into the depths of my memories where everything is rose coloured due to the spectacles, but instead remember what a tremendous battle this year's 125cc championship has been, irrespective of the outcome between Marquez and Nico Terol this Sunday. Pol Espargaro has put the line in the sand for having the most amount of speed, but alas at times not quite enough of it tempered.
Terol is a wise cookie though, with more experience than the others he's battling. Is he now regretting not riding at the Sachsenring even though he got the all clear for his still-recovering bad back. Maybe he had a chat to Kevin Schwantz who was there that day and had a look at his crippled wrist. Fair play to Nico though, it takes a brave man to shy away from racing when there is the chance of a championship; see Niki Lauda at Fuji in 1976.

Marc Marquez � LAT

From Le Mans this year, round three, Ajo was not quite gushing, but massive in his praise for his new rider. Little did we know at that point that he would go on to beat Rossi's records - he had yet to even win a race! Into the autumn after being knocked off at the first turn at Aragon, and having a proper teenager's strop in the gravel trap as the field sped away, Marc fought back in Asia with three victories.
75 points as the others rode out of their skin and still got beaten. They probably went to the airport never so disappointed to have ridden the best race of their lives. Welcome to Max Biaggi's world from Welkom 2004.
This kid is really something special. A jewel who could well be beating a 30-year-old Lorenzo in 2017. Just as Lorenzo won his first ever 125 race seven years before winning the MotoGP title, so Marquez could do the same.
We're more than a decade on from Valentino Rossi smoking the 125cc class; Marc Marquez is the new star. Anyone who drops it into the gravel trap on the out lap, limps it back to the pits where, for a moment, proper chaos ensues, and then keeps cool enough to not play it safe, fights hard and risks his points lead to cut through and win on the last lap, is someone exceptional.
All this from a lad who isn't even old enough to order a pint of beer to celebrate. Indeed, have we ever had a Spaniard with a Finnish head? Aki Ajo and Emilio Alzamora may well have found one.
Roll on Valencia and appreciate it before we get into next season, Yamaha and 125cc championship alike.

Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/30GKIOeUmlN/motorsport+motoGP+news+update+superbike+motorcycle

Stu Avant Rex Avery Masao Azuma Jan Bäckstrom Chris Baert

Husaberg and Joakim Ljunggren renew longstanding cooperation!

Having worked and raced together already for 6 years, Joakim will also fight for victory aboard a Hu...

Source: http://www.fim-live.com//en/media/news/news-detail/article/1292422712-husaberg-and-joakim-ljunggren-renew-longstanding-cooperation/

Mike Baldinger Alex Baldolini Mike Baldwin Brian Ball Andrea Ballerini Kork Ballington

World Superbike: Online WSBK Assen 2009 Videos

Source: http://sportbikeblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/world-superbike-online-wsbk-assen-2009.html

Adrian Bosshard Christian Boudinot Roy Boughey  Dennis Boulom Christian Bourgeois Philippe Bouzanne

Vermeulen looking forward to racing comeback

Kawasaki Racing Team rider Chris Vermeulen has now been cleared to put weight on his right leg as his recovery from a serious knee injury moves to another level. Currently in his native Australia, Vermeulen is looking to make a comeback at Kawasaki’s Sepang tests in mid January, but that comeback his not been completely confirmed yet.

“I am going well,” said Chris. “I started walking earlier this week and everything is going to plan. It is not easy, as I can do five or ten minutes of walking around, then I have to sit down for a while. I still have lots of physio exercises to do every day. I can swim, ride a bicycle, surf-ski in the ocean. I am in discussion with Mr Yoda-san from Kawasaki about a comeback at Sepang. For sure I will be right to ride, but at what level I can ride we do not know yet. If I am not at a level that is competitive we are discussion whether it is worth me coming back straight away or not. I would like to ride but Mr Yoda has yet to decide.”

Vermeulen had his first powered two-wheel ride since July today (Tuesday), in very modest circumstances. “I had my first ride on a motorbike today, on a little flat track circuit at my house, which has got a few left and right corners around it. Not motocross or anything like that, just a flat dirt track. I was pretty steady but it was good to get back on a bike. I only rode for about 20 minutes but I hope to ride every couple of days from now on. It wasn’t actually that weird a feeling, but that was the first time I had ridden any motorbike since the Brno WSBK round.”

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Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/vGP2pQ3RK2s/Vermeulen+looking+forward+racing+comeback

Franco Battaini Gerhard Bauer Manfred Baumann Alvaro Bautista Lenfranco Baviera Richard Bay

The "Killer" deal

Prologue:

As the saying goes, I needed another motorcycle (project) like I needed a hole in the head. And I'd been doing well to stay off...

Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144079&goto=newpost

Sergio Boroncini Gino Borsoi Luca Boscoscuro Gimmi Bosio Juup Bosman Adrian Bosshard

Lowest Prices

Hey everyone, sorry I haven't posted on here lately. Christmas season has kept us busy. But we decided to keep our sales on after Christmas too. ...

Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144077&goto=newpost

Hans Georg Anscheidt Alessandro Antonello Haruchika Aoki Nobuatsu Aoki Takuma Aoki Hiroshi Aoyama

KTM Building Moto3 Machine

When the rules for the Moto3 class, due to replace the 125cc two-stroke class from 2012 onwards, were announced, the entry of existing motocross and supermoto manufacturers seemed only a question of time. The new class is to feature 250cc, single cylinder four-stroke engines, with a maximum bore of 81mm and rev limited to 14,000 rpm, and all of the current companies building motocross bikes have an engine which - with a little modification - would fit that bill. 

The biggest - by reputation, at least - of the MX bike builders is surely KTM, and when Moto3 was announced, the gaze of the press immediately turned on Mattighofen, KTM's Austrian base. Rumors emerged as early as October that KTM was considering an entry, and now GPOne.com is reporting that the decision has been made, and that KTM's Moto3 project is already underway. According to GPOne.com, the technical details of the Moto3 engine are yet to be finalized, but given that the rules were only published in full at Valencia, with the details of the spec ECU issued just a couple of days ago, it is hardly surprising that KTM wanted to wait before starting work.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/W4oyNIXnGQU/ktm_building_moto3_machine.html

Franz Aschenbrenner Stuart Aspin Len Atlee Pierre Audry Karl Auer August Auinger